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I'm plotting a little mtb tour. Days 4 and 5 going from Torridon to Inverness need some expert input.
Day 1: train to Kingussie.
Ride Laggan Wolfrax.
Follow Highland 550 gpx to Fort Augustus hostel.
Day 2: Fort Augustus - Ratagan hostel.
Follow Highland 550 gpx by default. Are there any nice detour trails, perhaps around Glen Affric?
Day 3: Ratagan - Torridon hostel
I already checked and the Highland 550 gpx does not seem optimal around here (not least because it doesn't actually go to Torridon). I found a gpx from Coulags to Torridon, which looks good and gets positive comments here. How much hiking is involved (for a reasonably fit rider)?
Are there any other non-road options before Coulags?
Day 4: extra day around Torridon or continue north on Ht550, or head east?
No accommodation booked yet.
Day 5: ?
Train back around 8pm from Inverness.
Thanks
From Ratagan, head through Shiel Bridge and up into Strath Coe. From there you could climb up and over to Bealach na Sroine then (carefully!) pick your way down the trail beside the Falls of Glomach. This is a pretty spectacular section so well worth the intermittent sections of hike-a-bike.
Also I can't vouch for the rideability of the the path to Bealach, but it certainly looks like a decent path for much of it.
From the falls you descend and follow a landrover track to Killilan, where a path on the west bank of the River Ling leads you up and eventually down to the Attadale gardens. From there it is mostly a tarmac bash to Coulags.
Actually a pretty decent day's riding.
check geograph for an indication of what the trails are like seach by grid reference or feature name
Coulags up to Bealach na Lice is largely rideable, with a fantastic descent down to Annat, a v short road spin from Torridon.
Start of the climb is marred by work on what I think is a hydro project, but the track was still good when we were there a couple of months ago.
Thanks all. I'll definitely do the Coulags - Annat route.
After Torridon (going back to Inverness) I'm not still not sure. I found this track - http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue.aspx?VenueNumber=158 and could link up with trails near Strathpeffer/Contin. Or continue on the HT550 to Ullapool then ride to Inverness on road (doesn't sound too much fun)
Ullapool to Bonar Bridge off road and then get train from Ardgay to Inverness?
Day 1 - Train to Newtonmore rather than Kingussie as it is closer. And would save you a few minutes you could use to ride up Glen Banchor (couple of k bit tough but can be ridden) and down Strath an Eilich to Cluny Castle. You could also head up from Laggan village towards the spey dam and cut through to Laggan from there which minimises miles on the main road.
Thanks- I didn't notice there was a station at Newtonmore! On the other hand is it worth getting off at Dalwhinnie and riding back to get the trail round Ben Alder? (Possibly I'd skip the Laggan Wolfrax in this case though)
Looking at another Ht550 gpx I see it does in fact go to Torridon. (I must have been looking at a cheater's log! :))
Very few trains stop at Dalwhinnie so check your timings.
Not many trains stop at Dalwhinnie (is it demand only, maybe?) but yes, in touring trip mode I'd take that diversion over a few hours at Laggan. it's fairly easy going doubletrack with a damp section near loch pattack. Then simply climb the Corrieyairick and descend to Ft Augustus. If however you're thinking of doing the classic Ben Alder loop from Culra to Bealach Dubh, then Ben Alder Cottage and back out to Culra before heading north to Ardverickie, I'd be cautious about that- the climb from Ben Alder Cottage to the pass is a 1hr 15minute carry...
After Torridon, you can also return SE via the Bealach na Lice again, then Granda, Coire Lair to then cross the glen floor near Achnashellach Station and head east, ultimately coming out near Strathpeffer. Worth a look.
I'd also be tempted to compare that option with a proper Fisherfield crossing from Inverewe to Dundonnell, then north again before going east to Bonar Bridge and picking up the rail line above Inverness.
So many choices! All good, all have plusses and minuses.
How much time are you allowing for this on day 1 to allow you to enjoy it? Newtonmore via Glen Banchor to Fort Augustus was 5.5 hours without a pack when I did it last summer. Add train. Add couple of hours for Laggan playtime and time for carrying touring weight. Pretty full on day.
Oldbloke- train in around 7am (it's the sleeper service and is scheduled to stop at Dalwhinnie but scotroutes yes it's probably only a demand stop). Also I travel pretty light due to staying in hostels rather than camping (basically toothbrush, t-shirt, shorts, packtowel and normal day ride stuff). Anyway should be ok gently potter through each day.
Highlandman- thanks, I did briefly consider the classic Ben Alder but think it's too much now. I was defaulting to the Achnaschellach - Strathpeffer idea.
I like the idea of continuing north (the original plan was ht550 to Ullapool then SE) but not sure I've got the legs, even if taking the train part way 🙂
We did something vaguely similar a few weeks ago. Sleeper to Fort William, reversed the HT550 to Torridon over two days with a night at Camban bothy. We then had a couple of days riding the trails at Torridon, staying at the youth hostel, before getting the train from Achnashellach to Inverness and back home on the sleeper.
From Ratagan, head through Shiel Bridge and up into Strath Coe. From there you could climb up and over to Bealach na Sroine then (carefully!) pick your way down the trail beside the Falls of Glomach. This is a pretty spectacular section so well worth the intermittent sections of hike-a-bike.
Also I can't vouch for the rideability of the the path to Bealach, but it certainly looks like a decent path for much of it.
From the falls you descend and follow a landrover track to Killilan, where a path on the west bank of the River Ling leads you up and eventually down to the Attadale gardens. From there it is mostly a tarmac bash to Coulags.
Actually a pretty decent day's riding.
Following on from above.... Ive biked to the Falls of glomach from Morvich. After the woods the path up to the bealach is rideable in places. the path is quite narrow and deep though, so many peddle strikes. From the bealach to the falls is good riding. Ive not been past the falls. But the path is very steep here!! Watch out
The landrover path to killilan is tar, and flat. The track from killilan over to attadale is a bit vauge leaving killilan until the top of the first hill (hike a bike for sure), then good all the way to attadale.
Other options:
The track down glen affric (west) is very good. there are two options basically south or north of beinn fhada. The south route is the landrover path, then good single track. steep coming into glenlicht house (2 bothies on this bit). The north route leaves the path just west of glen affric YHA. its bit faint at first but good and all rideable (there is a boggy section but only a few kms)
From the bealach an sgairne down to morvich is excellent! steep, technical and fast in places.
Cheezpleez - sounds good. I'd like to make use of the bothies but plump for hostels due to convenience (bedding, kitchen, etc).
Danielskye- thanks! I'll cruise straight through from Glen Affric south of Beinn Fhada (route taken by HT550) to Rattagan. I'll probably then skip the Glomach falls / Killian option, as I already explored a bit of Kintail (LAMM 2009).
Chakaping- thanks for the warning about the hydro works.. hopefully it isn't an eye sore at least.
Day 4 - of you choose to head north, be wary of the HT550 route alongside Loch Maree. It's good on foot, not so good on a bike! There is a way through from Kinlochewe to Dundonnell, but it involves a fair amount of walking over the Bealach na Croise. It's a nice route from there on though. There's a hostel at Camusnagaul by Little loch Broom. Back to Inverness on day 5 is mainly road. I'd aim to catch the train from Garve, using some obvious vehicle track options en route, if time and energy allow.
Thanks, is this the Fisherfield crossing that highlandman suggested?
Does anyone know if Scotrail are fussy about shorting fares? I mean, atm I can buy an advance ticket from Achnashellach to Inverness for just £5- would they throw a wobbly if I get on the train e.g. at Garve? (In the south east this would probably get me a £20 penalty!)
In my experience the guard on the Achnashellach to Inverness train has always been cheery and helpful, not a jobsworth. May be something to do with the scenery. 😀
It's not the same Fisherfield crossing. It's not as good TBH, but the "Trans Fisherfield" does set the bar pretty high. The problem you have is getting from Torridon to Poolewe to start the better known route. It's either a long way by road, or a slog along the Postie Path vis Letterewe.
Trains - no problem with varying your journey, but these days you really need to book your bike on well in advance. There are only 4 spaces on each train, and they go pretty early sometimes.
So as a bit of a local here are my thoughts
What ever you do don't cycle east of Garve on the road it's a death trap especially rental camper vans. If you do want to cycle all the way head to silver bridge (north of Garve) and head along the north side of Loch Garve and head onwards towards Dingwall. Call in for a coffee if you have time.
Not sure of your fitness etc but beware that a lot of the routes being talked about here can be big days. One after another they could be a bit much. Coulags to Annat does have quite a bit of hike a bike (well at least for me)the descent is one of the best.
I find running tubeless the business in torridon, flats this time of year with the midges BRUTAL.
The fisherfield crossing is big and remote (Poolewe to Dundonnel) have done it a few times and still not convinced I like it, but the scenery is some of the best. Also historically there have been access issues and there are a couple of 'cyclists please stick to vehicular tracks' signs.
Finally the weather has been rubbish recently so would have easy alternatives for rubbish days.
If it all goes badly wrong I have a spare room in Dingwall, have a great time, take lots of pictures and have big fun. Happy to answer any other questions if you have any
Re. Poolewe to Dundonnell - I did a blog about our ride across a couple of years ago...
http://unduro.co.uk/riding/the-great-wilderness/
Thanks all. I booked the train from Achnasheen (with bike reservation)- will have to get coffee with Juggins on another trip 🙂 (cheers for the offer of a room as well).
Felltop- yes I see it's 35 miles by road.. not appealing.
Juggins- I ordered a midge net and will take plenty of 100% DEET for the midges! (I don't have a tubeless setup unfortunately... I'm on an 'antique' 26" 9 speed Mount Vision.) I've done a few other multi-day trips with hike-a-bike and so reasonably confident I'm not biting off too much.
Chakaping- nice blog, was also useful for the Morvich-Glen Affric part
Enjoy your trip. If you get stuck around Fisherfield, I'm roughly half way between Poolewe and Dundonnell. I'm through Dundonnell most days.